Binder for tablets



. 4 2 Sheds-#Sheet 1.

F. E. BUSCH.

BINDER FOR TABLETS.

(Model.)

APatented Deo. 20, 1887.

IIIHILIHI N. PETERS, Pnumumngmphnr. waihmgm", D. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Model.)

F. E. BUSCH.

BINDER FOR TABLETS.

Patented Deo. 20, 1887.

if (mw Wzesses A ,in -/W PATENT OFFICE.

FEDOR E. BUSCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BINDER FOR TABLETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,046, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed June 4. 1884.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FEDOR E. BUscH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders for Tablets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to binders for tablets composed of a series of sheets upon which it is designed to simultaneously make several copies through the medium of intermediate carbou-leaves,either by folding the sheets one or more times upon themselves or upon each other.

The object of this invention is to provide a binder forming a desirablebase or back for the sheets and adapted to firmly but removably hold the sheets in an outstretched manner and in such a positionthat each sheet may not only be continuously folded upon itself one or more times, but gaged to correspond in width with the opposing sheet or sheets while in the act of folding it and without the aid of lines, perforations, or other marks.

A further object f this invention is to provide such abinder with means for conveniently and removably holding one or more carbon sheets in a proper relative position to the tablet and in such a manner that said carbonleaves may be used Without handling as much as now required. y

Still further objects which are attained will be set forth in connection with the devices hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a binder embodying my invention, and with a book-tablet and carbon-leaves in their operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, showing a modification of the retaining device for holding the carbonleaves; Fig. 4, a perspective of the same, showing a modification of the form of tablet employed; Fig. 5, an end view showing another form of retaining device for the carbon leaves; Fig. 6, a transverse section on the line y y of Fig. 4,; Fig. 7, a longitudinal sect-ion on the line z z, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The base or body A of the binder may be of Serial No. 133,758. (Model.)

sheet metal, having turned-up side flanges, a, and end flanges, b, or be constructed entirely of wood in open box form or with a wooden base with metal flanges attached; but it should here `be stated that as the principal function of the side iianges is to strengthen and render the structure rigid,they may be olnitted. `Formed. with or otherwise secured to the end flanges are lips c c, which extend at a right angle to said flanges and project over the body of the binder, which lips constitute rigid jaws against which the end edges of the sheets of the tablet are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 7. In order to hold the sheets of the tablet against these lips as the sheets become reduced in number, by removal after use, and at the same time afford a desirable base upon which to write, the binder is provided with a follower, B, preferably constructed of sheet metal of an area corresponding with the internal area of the body less the thickness of the end flanges; but this follower may be of any other suitable material or area.

To render the follower automatic in operation it is seated upon a pair of` springs, C C, which are substantially rectangular in shape and are soldered or otherwise secured to the body so as to cross each other and extend at substantially an oblique angle to said body. There is no jointure or fixed connection between these springs and the follower, and hence these springs are free to slide over the follower when it is raised or depressed; and in this connection it should be observed that when the follower is in its lowest position and the springs under their greatest tension the pressure of the springs will be at the extremities of the follower; but as the follower rises and the tension of the springs decreases, they travel from the extremities toward the center of the follower, and gradually assume a greater angle with reference to the follower and their support. By this means the loss of tension of the springs is to some extent compensated for by their change of angle, and as a result a greater uniformity in the pressure of the springs against the follower is maintained; and `to this end these springs may consist of two straight wires crossing each other and arranged in pairs at any desired interval or points under the follower. It would, however, be no departure from the essential features of this held when in a bound condition,vas clearly' IOO invention to substitute spiral or other forni of springs for actuating the follower.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lips c are connected at one end by a strip, D, which strip I term a cutten for the reason that when the sheets forming the tablet are passed under it the outer edge of the cutter constitutes a cuttingedge against whichv a sheet 'having more than double the width of the binder can be severed, said cutting-edge having the further function of a ruler or gage, so that the sheet is always severed in a'straight line and in a line paral` lel to the original edges of the sheet.

The combined cutter and gage is partienlarly desirable when employing in connection with carbon-sheets a book having stubs-such, for example, as is shown in Fig. l.

The book referred to is stitched at one end.

and is placed in the binder with its stitched end arranged flush with one side edge of the binder, and its leaves passed under the combined cutter and gage, and so much of the book as projects beyond said cutter is turned under and against the bottom of the binder, where this projecting'end of the book may be held by hand or by a retaining device hereinafter described. If, in this position, a carbon-sheet be laid on the face l of the book and the-projecting end 2 of the sheet be folded over the cutter upon the sheet l, a writing upon the end 2 will be reproduced uponr the face l, after which, by taking hold of the end 2 and drawing it against the cutter, said end will be severed from the sheet, and the face l may be slipped from under the lips and constitute a stub, as shown. By this means a record of orders or other writings made upon the tablet held in the binder is preserved after the severed end l has been sent off or otherwise disposed of, and by having these writings upon bound stubs they are kept together for preservation and for conveniently filing away.

In order to facilitate the removal ofthe stubs from the binder and to avoid tearing them against the lips, the ends of the lips next the .stubs are cut away atan oblique angle, as-sh own at e in Fig. l. After the stub ends are severed from the main sheet they may be folded over and held upon the back of the binderwith the hand or by means of a suitable clasp or retaining device.A A form of clasp which may be used is shown at D', and consists of a rectangularshaped wire frame secured along one edge to the back ofthe binder and bent so that its opposing and free edge will exert a springpressure in the direction ofthe Said back and against sheets which may be pushed under. Any other form of clasp may be used, or instead of a clasp the projecting ends of sheets or stubs may be held by hand or by rubber band encircling said sheets and binder.

wWhen employing carboirsheets in conne@` tion with this or any other binder, it is desirable that some means should be provided for conveniently holding them in an operative position and n such a manner that they will be handled as little as possible and conveniently removed when worn out. To these ends I have shown in Fig. l an elongated case, E, Ushaped in cross-section, secured across one end of the binder by means of one or more spring-hinges, f,which, while holding the open side of the case against the end of the binder, permit the case to be swung outwardly and downwardly for the convenient insertion of the carbon sheet or sheets. The c arboirpaper to be used in connection with this ease is preferably rolled in Vconcentric layers upon itself', or, if preferred, upon a roller, and by this means the case is adapted to contain an extra supply of paper, which, as fast as the project- `fords a convenient receptacle for a fresh supplyvof Carbmrpaper, but efi'ectually protects this supply from dust and other foreign substances. f

As shown in Fig. l, only a single sheet of carbon is employed, because in the book there shown but one carbon copy is required; but it should, however, be understood that should more than one carbon copy be desirable, two or more sheets of carbon-paper can be rolled together in the case, so as to permit their simultaneous use'when an extra sheet of paper is used in connection with the tablet-as, for example, a'letter, bill-head, or other form, or when the end 2 is doubled in length, so as to be folded back upon itself with a carbonsheet between, and afterward separated into two sheets.

W'hile the case forms an important element in my invention, I do not, however, limit inyself to that particular construction for secur ing carbon-sheets to the binder in an operative position relative to the tablet, for instead thereofaspring retaining device, F, composed of a piece of bent wire,as shown in Fig. 3,may bel used for clamping the carbon-sheets against the end of the binder, from which retaining device the Worn-out sheets may be removed and replaced with fresh ones; or, I may use a hinged and spring-actuated jaw, G, such as is shown in front elevation in Fig. 5 and crosssection, Fig. 7, the operation of which jaw is substantially like that of the'clasp F, above referred to.

rlhe retaining devices F and G are preferably employed iu connection with tablets such as are illustrated on Sheet 2 of the drawings, which tablets are composed of loose sheets secured in the binder in connection with two sheets of carbon and adapted to be folded in such a manner as to constitute, when severed, triplicate writings or orders, especially desirable in store use by salesmen, and where it is the custom to have one of the triplicates for the salesman, one for the cashier, and one for the purchaser.

When employed for the above-described IOO purpose, the point of separation of the triplicates may, if desired, be indicated by printed lines or perforations.

The use ofthis binder is notliniited to the em- 5 ployment of the ordinary blank or blank form of tablet, for it is equally adapted for holding letter, legalcap, or other sizes of paper, or for what is commonly known as manifold paper, Whether in the form of loose sheets or bound;

1o and it is also obvious that carbonpaper and the retaining devices therefor may be omitted from the binder Without departing from the spirit of the broad invention herein involved and hereinafter claimed. It may also be ob- 15 served that a set-screw may be substituted for the springs for actuating the follower in binding the tablet.

In conclusion it may be stated that the upper edge ofthe case E is caused by its spring 2o j' to impinge against the binder to prevent the displacement of the carbon-sheet.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

25 e 1. The combination, with a tablet-binder, of a springactuated retaining device secured thereto and arranged to clamp a carbon-leaf to the side of said binder ina position relative to the sheets of the tablet,substantially as and for the purpose described. 5o

2. The combination, with a binder for tablets, of a case for holding carbon-leaves and one or more hinges jointing said case to the binder in such a manner that when the case is in its operative position its open side will be closed 3 5 by the edge of the binder, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a binder for tablets, of a case for holding a supply of carbonpaper and a spring-hinge joining said case to 4o the binder, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the base, the follower, and the lips opposing the follower, of a clasp secured on the under side of the base for holding the projecting end or ends of a 45 tablet, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FEDOR E. BUSCH.

Witnesses:

JNO. G. ELLIOTT, W. W. ELLIOTT. 

